Columbus North’s Kylah Lawson reaches for a rebound during a basketball game against Roncalli at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.
The Republic file photo
When it comes to rebounding, Kylah Lawson has been a beast on the boards the past four years for Columbus North.
“Kylah has started for us all four years since she’s been in high school, and she’s always been a high-energy player for us,” North coach Brett White said. “She’s always been someone that’s been around the basketball. She’s a girl who rebounds about as well as I have seen as far as players we’ve had in our program. It’s a big key of her success because she does have the ability to rebound well because she does jump well.”
Tonight, Lawson will help lead the Bull Dogs (14-8) into a first-round sectional matchup against East Central (19-4) at Bloomington North. Tipoff will be around 7:45 p.m., following the 6 p.m. opener between Columbus East and Bloomington North.
The 5-foot-10 Lawson’s 666 rebounds ranks third on Columbus North’s all-time list behind Missy Wade (762) and Ali Patberg (747). Lawson also is 11th on the school’s all-time steals list with 187.
While her 7.2 rebounds per game this season are down slightly from the 9.0 and 8.8 a game she put up as a sophomore and junior, Lawson has taken on more of the scoring load. She averages 11.4 points, second on the team to junior Lauren Barker’s 12.5.
“What’s been good about Kylah this year is the fact that she’s taken on other roles,” White said. “We’ve played her on the perimeter some. We’ve played her inside some. She’s handled the basketball. She’s extended her range shooting the basketball. So she’s really made herself into a more rounded player this season.”
Lawson, who has 14 3-pointers this season, has emerged as a second perimeter threat for the Bull Dogs.
“When she’s matched up against a 5 (center), she’s able to bring the 5 out on the floor and beat them off the dribble because she has that quickness and she’s able to beat 5s down the floor in transition because she does run well,” White said. “The fact that she’s so athletic does make her a more well-rounded player to where she can use that as a way to attack those that are guarding her that aren’t quite as athletic.”
Last week, Lawson was one of 10 seniors selected to the Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association All-District 3 team.
“I was honestly really surprised that I got that,” Lawson said. “I know what kind of player I am, but I was so surprised, and I’m really proud of myself and what I’ve achieved.”
Injuries to point guard Emma Long and backup center Kennedy Horn affected North through the middle part of the season. But the Bull Dogs appear to be hitting their stride with three consecutive wins going into the sectional.
“We’ve had some struggling moments, but I think we just bounced back and really pushed through,” Lawson said. “You can tell that in (Thursday’s win against Roncalli). We were losing at the half, and we just all had that mindset of ‘We want to win our last home game,’ so we came out and tried to finish with a win.”
As one of four seniors and one of two senior starters for North, Lawson has provided a big dose of leadership this season.
“With her starting for four years, naturally, the girls look to her for leadership,” White said. “She’s not a real vocal person necessarily, but she’s one that leads by example. She’s one that always battles for us in games. The girls see that, and the girls follow that.”
Lawson is hoping to continue her career at the collegiate level and is leaning toward Hanover. She wants to major in psychology and minor in sociology.
“They’ve come to a lot of my games and really supported me through this season,” Lawson said.
The Bull Dogs are looking for their first sectional title since 2017. They first have to face an East Central team that beat them 47-31 back in December.
“Winning sectional is a big goal for us this year,” Lawson said. “I really think we can. We need to move it game-by-game. I think that we can beat (East Central). We just need to be confident going into that game because sometimes struggle with that. But as long as we have good confidence, and we play like we did against Ben Davis and (Roncalli), I think we can.”
